Damper for violins



A. 152B; BBAUN.

DAMPER FOR VIOLINS.

No. 48,648. Patented July 11, 1865.

PATENT OFFICE.

AUGS. F. H. BRAUN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

DAM-PER FOR VIOLIINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 48 ,648. dated July 11, 1865.

. scription of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the'drawings which accompany this specification, in.

which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation.- Fig. 2 is a section.- Fig. 3 is a top view. jFig. tie a bottom view. Fig. 5 is an end view.

The nature ofmy invention consists in providing an instrument which is to be attached to the tail-board of a violin, which is to impart softness or modulation to its sound, and is operated with the chin of the performer by means of a lever attached to a spring.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

I use the common tail-board of the violin. At the lower end I attach a spring by means of a small screw. This spring is made of iron or steel, and'extends entirely underneath the tail-board and passes through a brass case. This case is confined to thetail-board by means of screws, and is about two inches long, slightly increasing in width, and having a projection at its base upon which to place the bridge. Through this case the spring passes up in the form of a neck. Upon this neck is fastened the capodastro by means of a screw. 7

.structed ofiron or steel, and extends about one-third of the whole distance of the main spring, one end of which is fastened to thetailboard by means of a screw. The other end protrudes up through the tail-board, and has a button placed upon it, upon which the chin may rest. 7

The operation of the instrument is as follows: When a soft or subdued tone to the'viol is desired the performer presses his chin upon the button which is attached to the leverwhich operates the spring upon which the sordine is placed, causing itto shut down upon the bridge.

In the drawings, Fig. I, A represents the tail-board. B is the loop which connects it to the viol. 0 represents the sordine. D is the neck to the spring. F is a projection upon which the bridge is placed. Gis the brass case through which the spring passes. H H are holes for the strings of the viol. E is the button attached to the lever I.

Fig. 2, as shown in section, A A represents the tail-board. B is a loop. 0 is the sordine. D is the neck of the spring. E is the button. F is a projection for the bridge to rest upon. G is the brass case through which the spring passes. I is the lever which operates the spring K.

Like letters upon Figs. 3, 4, and 5 represent the parts as above described. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desireto secure by Letters Patent,

AUGUSTUS F. H. BRAUN.

Witnesses O. W. M. SMITH, A. T. DEWEY. 

